Halong – Bay of the descending dragon

Ha means coming down and Long means dragon in the Vietnamese language. So in other words…the descending dragon.  The legend goes that the dragon came down to help save the people of Vietnam from their enemies, during this time it dropped thousands of pearls into the sea forming the limestone islands that make up the bay. From the sea it looks like an impenetrable barrier, providing natural protection in days past. Now this magnificent sight forms one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. And that is the 3rd natural wonder on this list that I can put a tick next to.

This is a major tourist attraction in Vietnam especially since it was granted the status of a UNESCO world heritage site. In fact I was very sceptical about even coming to Halong Bay concerned that it would be a typical tourist trap.

And in the first hour I thought my fears were confirmed – hundreds of boats waiting in the harbour with a constant stream of people swept to and from the boats. Fortunately the mad rush stops as soon as you acquire your sea legs and the Captain welcomes you on board.

Lunch with a matinee show of passing limestone islands is on the cards. Wherever you look these enormous silent statues of green and grey grab your attention as they poke holes in the emerald green waters.

Our daytime hours are filled with activities like climbing 400 steps to the top of Ti Top island for an aerial view (it’s actually named after the Russian cosmonaut Titov but the Vietnamese struggle to pronounce the f). A canoe through ‘light and dark caves’ on Cath Ba island, a swim in the emerald waters and a cave called Surprise because of the enormity of this cavern in the bowels of the limestone.

The day had it’s own little surprise end…a seafood braai (barbeque) washed down with a nice bottle of red. Perhaps our seafood came fresh from the floating seafood market since Halong Bay is home to 700 fishermen and their families living in floating villages.

The gentle sway of the boat, the absolute silence of the bay and a knowledge of the beauty we were surrounded by ensured a feeling of serenity as I closed my eyes to dream of the dragon dropping his pearls.